Motor attachment for boats.



B. E, BYRD.

MOTOR ATTACHMENT FORBOATS.

APPLICATION FILED III/IY 22, I9Ie.

1,228,094. Patented .May 29, 191.7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Witnesses Attorneys mr Nnsmsrpsfsns cu.. Pnoro'u'rua. wAsmNcroN. u c.

B. E. BYRD.

MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22 I9l6. 1,228,

Patented May 29,1917.y I

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

nventor Witnesses Attorneys sA'rEs RRITTON E. BYRD, or DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS.

Speccaton of liettersvatent.A j 'Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed May 22,1916. serialno. aa-'15a To @ZZ 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BRrrToN E. BYRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina, have invented anew and useful Motor Attachment for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a spring motor, adapted to propel boats of any sort such as submarines, canoes, skiffs, gigs and the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel means whereby the spring motor may be wound up'v froml any point within the boat.

Another object of the invention' is to provide means for reversingthe spring motor.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide novel means for stopping and controlling the spring motor.

It is within the province of the disclosure4 to improve generally and 4to enhance the utility of devices of'that type to which the present invention appertains. j

With the-above and Iother objects in view which will appear as the descriptionV proceeds, the invention `resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:-A

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, the frame of a boat towhich the present invention has been applied; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan'of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken adjacent the bow of the boat and illustrating the steering mechanism; L

Fig. 4 is a'crosssection of the spring motor;

Fig. 5 isa fragmental fore-and-aft section taken through the spring motor, parts, appearing in elevation;

Fig. 6 is'a cross section taken through the spring motor;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental cross section showing oneV of the guides which support the drive bars whereby the motor is wound up;

'Fig. 8 is a section of the structure shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View. illustrating one of winding ratchets, together with its back stop and feed pawls. f

The boat wherewith the device forming the subject matter of this application is assembled, may be of any desired form. For illustration, however, there is shown in the drawings, a portion of the frame of a boat, comprising a keel 1, a stern post 2, a

skeg 3, gunwales 4, ribs 5, thwarts 6, and a samson post 7. .'Any number of thwarts 6 may bev provided, two'thwarts only being shown, in order to economize space in the drawings.

Attachedyto 'the stern 4post 2 and to the after end of the keellis afbearing 8. Journaled in the bearing`8'-and in the stern post 2 and supported by thefskeg 3 is a rudder post 9 carrying a rudder 10, the rudder post 9 being equippedfat its upper end with a yoke 11.I Yoke lines 12 are connected to the yoke lland are rove through fair-leaders 14 on the gunwales 4. Adjacent the bow of the boat, the yoke lines 12 are carried inwardly 'across idlers 15 andare assembled with a drum 16 having a steering wheel 17, the drum' 16 bei-ng journaled on a shaft 18 which 'preferably is fixed in the samson post 7. The afterend of the shaft 18 is received in a support 19 upstanding from the keel 1. The upper end of the support 19 is slightly resilient so that it may bear againstthe; after end of the drum 16 to bind the drum between the upper end of the support and the samson post 7. Pivotedas shown atr20 to the rear end of the shaft 18 is a cam lever 21 adapted to bear against the upper end of the support 19 so that the drum 16 may be bound between the support andthe 4samson post, as aforesaid. The construction, therefore, is such that at lthe will of an operator, the drum may be held against rotation.

Consequently, the boat may be held upon a course, although there is noone at the steering wheel 17. Such a structure 1s of peculiar utility in a boat actuated 4by a spring motor, since it enables the wheelsman toA leave the wheel, for the purpose of oiling or adjusting the spring' motor. Assembled with the boatat any point intermediate the stem and the stern thereof, but preferably located adjacent the stern is a spring motor embodying a frame comprising a front plate 22 and a back plate 23. A propeller shaft 24 passes through the stern post 2 and is journaled in the bearing'S and in the plates 22 and 23 the shaft 24 carrying a propeller the shaft. Secured to the sliding shaft 29 is a large gear wheel 31. The large gear wheel 31 is adapted to mesh with the gear wheel 28 and with the gear wheel 26 at different times. If the large gear wheel 31 is in mesh with the pinion 28, then the propeller shaft 24 is Vdriven by a gear train comprising the gear wheel 31, the pinion 28, and the pinion 27 with which the pinion 28 meshes. By sliding the shaft 29 rearwardly, the gear wheel 31 may be'made to mesh with the pinion 26 which is secured directly to the propeller shaft 24. By this operation the small intermediate pinion 27 is cut out of the driving train. struction above described permits the propeller shaft 24 to be reversed. Secured to the sliding shaft 29 and if desired formed integrally with the large gear wheel 31 is an elongated pinion 32 provided 'at its rear end with a circumscribing groove 33. The elongated pinion 32 meshes with a large gear wheel 34 havingv a forwardly extended hub 35, the gear wheel 34 being preferably secured to a shaft 8O journaled in the plate 22. Mounted to rotate on the shaft is a tubular shaft 36. One end of a coiled spring 37 is secured to the tubular shaft 36, the other end of the spring being secured to the gear wheel 34. The spring 37 may be housed within a suitable casing 38. Located eXteriorly of the rear plate 23 is a beveled pinion 39 connected to the tubular shaft 36. It will now be. understood that when the tubular shaft 36 is rotated, the spring 37 will be wound up, the spring exerting its force upon the gear wheel 34, the gear wheel 34 driving the elongated pinion 32, the pinion 32 rotating the gear wheel 31, and the gear wheel 31 rotating the propeller shaft 24, either through the pinion 28 and the pinion 27, or directly by way of the larger pinion 26 as hereinbeforo described. g The means for rotating the shaft 36 to wind up the spring 37 will now be set forth.

Meshing with the beveled pinion 39 on the rear end of the tubular shaft 36 is a beveled pinion 40 carried by a cross shaft 41Vjournaled in brackets 42 projecting rearwardlyV from the back plate23. Located eXteriorly of the brackets 42 and secured to the cross shaft 41 are ratchet wheels 43 engaged by Vspring actuated back stop pawls 44 pivoted The conratchet wheels 43 and the feed pawls 48, ro-

tation being imparted to the tubular shaft 36 to wind up the spring 37, by means of the intermeshing beveled pinions 39 and 40.

A means is provided whereby the levers 45 may be swung from within the boat, it being possible for a single person to swing the levers and it being equally possible for all hands to be put to work. In carrying out the end above mentioned, links 49 are pivoted to the lower ends of the levers 45, the forward ends of the links being pivoted to drive bars 50 extended fore-andaft and prolonged, ordinarily to a point adjacent the steering mechanism 17H16. The drive bars l 50 are laddenshaped when viewed in top plan and comprise side plates 51 and cross pins 52 connecting the side plates. Assembled with the keel 1 or otherwise mounted on the frame work of the boat are bearings 53, one of which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The bearings 53 include an upstanding arm 54 provided at its top with an'overhanging finger 55. Upstanding from the bearing 53 is an arm 56 having a notch 57. Rollers 58 are provided, the lsame being supplied on their ends with spindles 59, one spindle being journaled in the arm 54 and the other spindle being journaled in the notch 57 of the arm 56, the construction being such that the rollers 58 may be removed or renewed when desired. The side plates 51 of the drive bars 50 ride on the rollers 58, the upper edge of one side plate 51 being engaged slidably by the fingery 55 to hold the drive bars 50 in contact with the rollers 58-all of which will be understood clearly from Figs. 7 and 8. Pivoted to the forward ends of the drive bars 50 are links 60 pivoted to the ends ofa Walking beam 61 fulcrumed inter- U mediate its ends as shown at 62 on a bearing 63 secured to the keel 1 adjacent the Samson post 7, or disposed in any other convenient location. If the bearing 63 is located close to the samson post 7, it may be necessary to cut away the samson post at its sides, as shown at 64, in order that the walking beam 61 may have a proper swinging movement. This, however, is a detail which, obviously, may be omitted without jeopardizing the utility of the invention.

Mounted on the thwarts 6 are hangers 65 carrying fulcrum pins 66 passing through levers 67 provided at their upper ends with hand grips 68 and equipped adjacent their ies lower ends with pedals 69. The lower ends of the levers 67 are slotted as shown Vat 70 to receive the cross pinsV 52 of the drive bars 50. The construction is such that any of the levers may be detached from the thwarts 6 at will, it being possible to use as many or as few of the levers as may be found expedient. A person sitting on one thwart 6 may operate one of the levers 67 on the neXt forward thwart by means of the hand grips 68 and the pedals 69. Thus, the levers 67 may be swung upon their fulcrums 66, the drive bars being caused to reciprocate fore-andaft, the drive bars being operatively connected to their forward ends by means of the walking beam 61 and the links 60. ,It will now be understood clearly that when a longitudinal sliding movement is imparted to the drive bars 50, the levers 45 will be swung, the spring 37 being put under tension. It is possible, therefore, for the crew to wind up the spring 37 and to ald 1n propelling the boat, at any time.

The invention contemplates a means whereby the ldirection of rotation of the propeller shaft 24 may be reversed, and whereby the spring motor may be stopped and started at will. To accomplish this result, a shaft 71'is extended fore-'and-aft, the forward end of the shaft 71 being mounted in the support 19 and the after end of the shaft being mounted in the plates 22 and 23 of the motor frame. For a purpose to be set forth hereinafter, the shaft 71 is mounted to rock and to slide endwise in the elements above mentioned. Secured to the forward end of the shaft 71 as shown at 73, in any suitable manner, is an upstanding lever 72 mounted to move within the contour of a loop-shaped keeper 74 which may be attached to the support 19. One side of the loop-shaped keeper 74 is provided with an inwardly projecting finger 75 shown in Fig. 1, the other side of the loop shaped keeper 74 being equipped, as shown in Fig. 3, with an upstanding flange 76. Pivoted to the lever 72 is a latch 77 adapted to hook over the flange 76. The shaft 71 may be slid endwise by means of the lever 72 and may be held in any position to which it may have been adjusted by engaging the lever with the v finger 75. The shaft 71 may be rotated by means of the lever 72 and after the shaft has been rotated, the same may be held against further movement by engaging the latch 77 with the fiange 76 of the keeper 74. Secured to the shaft 77 near to its rear end is an upstanding arm 78 adapted to coact with the end 79 of. a depending lever 81 pivoted at 82 in F ig. 6 to a brake bar 83 suitably shaped to coact with the hub 35 of the pinion 34. The numeral 84 designates a frame in which the brake bar 83 has a slight vertical movement, the frame 84 being suspended from rods 85 connecting the platesl 22 and 23 of the spring motor. Carried by the lower portion of the frame 84 are pins 86 mounted to move in inclined slots 87 formed in the brake bar 83. The upper end of the lever 81 is supplied with a cam 88 coacting with one side of the frame 84. When 'the shaft 71 is rocked by means of the lever 72, the arm 78 swings the lever 81 on its fulcrum 82, the cam end 88 of the lever 81 coperating with the frame 84, the brake bar 83 being moved endwise, and being moved upwardly, by the coperation between the pins 86 and the slots 87. In this manner, the brake bar 83 is rmly engaged with the hub 35 ofthe pinion 34, and by this means, the spring motor may be stopped at any time. When the brake bar 83 is engaged with the hub 35, the latch 77 on the lever 72 is hooked over the flange 76 on the keeper 74. It will now be clear that by rocking the shaft through the medium of the lever 72, the motor may be stopped at any time.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the gear wheel 31 may be moved fore-andaft, along with the shaft 29, so 'as to bring the gear wheel into mesh either with the pinion 28 or the pinion 26, thus to effect a reversal in the direction of rotation of the propeller 25. In order to accomplish this result, a forked arm 89 is attached to the rear en d of the shaft 71 in such away that the shaft may turn therein and coperates with the groove 33 in the elongated pinion 32 which is formed integrally with the gear wheel 31. From the foregoing it will vbe seen that a reversal in the direction of the rotation of the propeller 25 may be brought about by moving the shaft 71 endwise through the instrumentality of the lever 72. The construction is such that the wheelsman, without leaving his position, may steer the boat, stop the motor or reverse the mo tor. In case there should be but one'person in the boat, the craft may be held to its course by locking the steering drum 16 against rotation, by means of thecam lever 21. Thereupon, the operator of the boat may wind up the spring 37 of the motor, by manipulating any of the levers 67 which are fulcrumed on the thwarts 6.

The operation of the structure has been dealt with hereinbefore step-by-step, but briefly considered is as follows:

The spring motor may be wound up from any of the thwarts 6 by reciprocating any of the levers 67, the drive bars 50 being reciprocated, the levers 45 being caused to swing, and the cross shaft 41 rotating lthe tubular shaft 36 through the beveled pinions 39 and 40, whereupon the spring 27 may be put under tension..

The shaft 71'may be rocked by means of the lever 72, thus causing the arm 78 and the lever 81 to apply the brake bar 83 to the hub 35 of the gear wheel 34. In this connection it is to be observed that any suitable brake mechanism; actuated by the shaft 7l may be provided. rIlhe direction of rotation of the propeller 25 may be reversed by sliding the shaft 7l endwise by means of the lever 72, under which circumstances, the arm 89 on the shaft will move the gear wheel 31 into mesh with the pinion 28 or into mesh with the pinion 26.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a .device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a winding means forV the spring motor including a drive bar mounted to slide fore-and-aft of the boat; a thwart;

and a lever fulcrumed on the boat and operatively' connected with the drive bar; the lever being accessible from the thwart.

Q. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a winding means for the motor including spaced drive bars mounted to slide fore-and-aft'of the b oat; an operative connection between the forward ends of the drive bars; and levers individual to the\drive bars and operatively connected therewith, the levers being fulcrumed on the boat.

3. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a winding means for the motor comprising a pair of drive bars mounted to slide fore-and-aft of the boat; a walking beam fulcrumed on the boat; links connecting the ends of the walking beam with the forward ends of the drive bars; and levers fulcrumed on the boat and operatively connected with the drive bars.

t. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a winding means for the spring motor Vcomprising a depending lever; a drive bar mounted to slide fore-and-aft of the boat; a link pivotally connecting the rear end of the drive bar with the lever; and an actuating lever operatively connected with the drive bar and fulcrumed on the boat.

5. In a device of the class described, a

boat; a propelling means therefor; a springV v mounted to slide longitudinally of the boat and-pivotally connected at their rear ends with the links; a. walking beam fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the boat; links forming pivotal connections between the boat including a thwart; a propelling means for the boat; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; and a winding means for the motor, the winding mechanism including a drive bar extended fore-and-aft of the boat, the drive bar including side strips and cross pins connectthe side strips; a lever; means for detachably connecting the lever to the thwart, the lower end of the lever being received between the side strips, and being forked to straddle one of the cross pins.

8. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a brake controlling the spring motor; a reversing mechanism for the spring motor; a shaft mounted to rock and to move endwise; means for operatively connecting the shaft with the reversing mechanism whereby the reversing mechanism will be operated when the shaft is moved endwise; and mechanism for operatively connecting the shaft with the brake, whereby the brake will be actuated by the shaft when the shaft is rocked.

9. In a device lof the class described, a boa-t; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a steering mechanism for the boat and spaced from the motor; a brake controlling the motor; a shaft mounted to rock; means for operatively conn-ecting the shaft with the brake, whereby the brake will be actuated when the shaft is rocked; and means assembled with the shaft and located adjacent the rsteering' mechanism for rocking. the shaft.

10. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the propelling means; a reversing means for the spring motor; a steering mechanism for the boat and spaced Vfrom the motor; a shaft mounted to slide endwise on the boat; means for connecting the shaft with the reversing mechanism; and means for sliding the shaft endwise, said means being located adjacent the steering mechanism.

11. In a device of the class described, a boat; a propelling means therefor; a spring motor operatively connected with the proellin@ means a reversinfr means for they will be actuated when the shaft is moved endvvise; means for operatively connecting the shaft with the brake, whereby the brake Will be actuated. by the shaft When the shaft is locked; a steering mechanism for the boat located in spaced relation to the motor; and a single element operatively connected With the shaft to rock and to move the same l5 endvvise, said element being located adjacent the steering mechanism. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signature in the Presence of two Witnesses.

BRITTON E. BYRD. Witnesses:

J. M. FAUCETT, D. L. SAssER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

